Before Brentford – Manchester City: Raheem Sterling, the glutton is not satisfied

He is the man in form for Manchester City, two months after being an undesirable one. If this start of the 2021-2022 season were to be a song, it would be a refrain that Raheem Sterling knows all too well. The English striker is in full swing at the best time, Boxing Day and his dantesque chain of meetings. Not long ago, Sterling seemed however clearly pushed towards the exit, between lack of playing time and contractual situation source of the tensions with its leaders. Not enough to destabilize the former Liverpool player, who has always been used to reversing situations and opinions. His sparkling form even makes him one of Pep Guardiola’s base men again, before moving to Brentford on Wednesday.

A few months earlier, football had to come home for the Euro, but Raheem Sterling was not a prophet in his country. England, among the favorites of the European Championship, had eyes only for his goal machine Harry Kane, his young shoots Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka, or his new darling Jack Graelish. This same Graelish also waved the transfer pages of the tabloids, he who was insistently announced to join Manchester City, for a record amount for a British player. Meanwhile, in the shadows, Sterling was charcoal. Better, while Kane crossed the first phase like a shadow, his lane friend – author of three goals in the first four games of the Three Lions – carried his own.

The tension, then the liberation

What to rehabilitate him somewhat in public opinion, and in the press across the Channel. But not necessarily at Manchester City. After a less conclusive exercise (14 goals and 12 assists in 49 matches in all competitions after three exercises with 23 goals minimum), the die seemed to be cast. With Graelish arriving at the same post, to the left of the attack, Sterling should be content to share the minutes. The former Liverpool player has only started three of the Premier League’s first eleven matches, to the point where his frustration is clearly expressed.

Goals and voice

Whoever was shortlisted among six finalists for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year might take the end of the tunnel as a sign of his once again established place. But he saw others, in club as in selection, not to be satisfied with this prosperous period. Evidenced by his very measured joy, despite the offensive orgy against the Foxes. « It was a game we should have folded. It was a good first 45 minutes (Editor’s note: City led 4-0 at rest), but these are the kinds of matches we need to complete. This is the challenge.“One more for Raheem Sterling. And he’s not in the habit of running away from them, in Catalonia, or anywhere else.